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Youth Advisory & Action Council (YAC)

The YAC is a dedicated, hard-working and diverse group of 15-20 youth ranging in age from 15-24 who want to make a difference in their communities. Since 1995, the YAC has initiated its own events/projects, participated in McCreary’s various projects as well as activities sponsored by other agencies.

The YAC is about getting youth out and engaged in their communities as well as speaking out about issues that are relevant and important to them. The YAC is a youth-driven group which means the YAC members decide which projects and events they would like to be involved with. The YAC strives to create an inclusive and diverse group of youth with a wide range of experiences which they could bring to their understanding of issues that youth face in B.C.

The YAC provides a great opportunity for youth to:

Meet new friends & build community

Travel and take part in leadership & training activities

Be part of some interesting, creative & fun projects

Share your voice and speak out on issues that matter to you[th]!

In the past, the YAC has been involved with some interesting and creative projects/events designed to raise awareness about youth issues and ways they could be addressed, most notably the B4 Conferences (Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges Conference), YACshops and CitizenU.

In this video, made for McCreary's 35th anniversary, current members and alumni came together to share their experiences of being on the YAC.

How does the YAC work?

The YAC works under full group consensus at all times, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and respected. As far as structure goes, flexibility is the key, and there is never any pressure to participate but the opportunities are always there. Two members of the YAC also serve on McCreary Centre Society’s Board of Directors. A McCreary staff person serves as a resource for the group and attends meetings and events.

Why do we do it?

McCreary’s YAC all share an underlying common goal which is to promote youth health. They strive to become engaged members in their communities and raise awareness on key youth issues. The benefits of volunteering and being part of the Youth Advisory and Action Council are endless. There is always substantial personal growth as well as exciting new opportunities. And don’t forget, it looks great on the resume!

Join the YAC

The YAC is always looking for youth with different voices, opinions, and ideas! If you are interested in becoming a part of the YAC or would like more information,

Resources on running a YAC

Here are some ideas about how to run a youth council, how to organize meetings and what everyone's responsibilities are. We also have a sample of McCreary's youth participation projects. McCreary has engaged youth in a variety of projects over the years. All of them had youth staff involved and youth input into the planning and/or reporting of the project. Meaningful youth participation is a critical component in all McCreary youth projects.